a l i v e & a w a k e

A Homeless Man on Street

Another Guest Blogger Paul.

I have had the privelege of meeting Paul and seeing the way God works in ourlives. More importantly he is capturing the Way God is meeting Him.Paul has the eyes to see Christ in the seeking and finding of life. He is just starting to put this story down in journal form and felt he could share it. It is encouraging me to have a heart to seek God's story evidencing in my own life. This is the first insightful journal from Paul;

Looking back on everything that I've accomplished has brought me great joy and pain. There is so much history that took place. A lot of that history took place when I lived in Calgary, for it is there I  truly believe God was speaking to me.

At the time I was homeless and lived on the streets, and having a christian background just opened my eyes to a lot of hurting and confused people. Although I was struggling with my own sins and troubles, at the time, God was still able to use me. I had a deep hurt seeing the different types of people just living their lives, some with the idea that there was nothing in life worth living for. There were others who, pushed and fought trying to regain some sort of life without the pain of addicition and the slavery of the streets.

Everywhere I looked I saw mass addiction to drugs, it was a means of escape for them. A way of forgetting the troubling past that haunted them day to day. Everyone had a different story to tell, and had a different history they carried with them. But apart from all the pain and selfish lives some people lived, there were good people.

I had flown to Calgary in hopes to attend Teen Challenge because of my drug addiction, but 3 days into the program I was kicked out. I was left next to a subway station with nothing but the clothes on my back. I knew no one and had no idea where I was going. It had to be the most frightening time in my life. All I could do was pray that God would lead me in the right direction and give me a sign. So I was on a train headed to no where, unsure of what was going to happen and still in shock. About 30 min in I saw a church off to the side, I stopped in and was given directions to a christian shelter named "The mustard Seed".

Upon my exit of the train I saw a man and a women having a smoke, I told them briefly what happened and needed help. They too were headed there, and it was those two people that taught me everything I needed to know and succeed on the streets. For one whole month they cared for me as if I was their own. You could say the woman was kinda my street mom. She was someone I could go to when the times where down.

Even when you think that you're alone and have no one to turn to, God has your back. He was watching mine, and it's because of his help I was able to accomplish a lot of ministry work within the months to come.

Separation

“as a person thinks in his heart, so it is.”

As we continue this series of the many facets of a killer, we come to the most profound and subtle of this force (in my opinion). There are many indications that we as a society, value and pursue being separate from others. Detached from the “relationship” internally which is spiritual and ultimately with God (Genesis –garden) we practice detachment from others in an outward fashion. This is what the Proverb means, our heart (internally) feels it is rejected so we can only give what we own so we give separation. Grieving expert Bill Bates says that ‘humanities greatest problem is that we perceive we are separate”. I believe this and we see it in how so many will knowingly/unknowingly push others away to make it true.  The gods of today show us this value, “the richer I become, the more separate I want be.” In this case money, power, fame are only accelerates to this deep value.

 Today we see people who are powerful, famous and wealthy choosing to live away from others: Homes -mostly guarded and protected, walking -with body guards and keeping people at a distance, travelling—in their own private or exclusive ways, communicating –from private lines. Now I want to make it clear—there are sometimes really good reasons why these measures have been taken, however it can send a message of ‘the more you have, this type of life is what we need to seek out’. So people who grow in wealth will move from the townhouse/semi to a detached home or home with property. Even further if we could ideally live better, it would be so that we have our own view without others around (again nothing wrong with that). Is it fair to say that if we all got out wishes, we would have to live on a much bigger planet, with amazing homes and quite alone.

The highest form of punishment in our country Canada is solitary confinement. Yet we seem to be pursuing the same outcome in the ‘free’ world with directed energy, effort and resources to accomplish it.

Already people choose to have less and less interaction with others. Take a test:

What do you think people prefer, automated teller or a person?

Do people prefer drive through or going into the building?

Do people prefer to ride the elevator alone or with others?

When driving, do people prefer to make eye contact and acknowledge the people in the car, or just see the object of the car and avoid eye contact?

Do people like sharing a toothbrush or……OK I’m going too far.

But you can see enough that we have a preferred default switch in us that will choose the path of less contact in general. Why is this when deep down we are geared to feel like we belong, connect and interact with others?

So what kind of ‘compassion’ is derived from this value? When we do want to help people, it maybe lacks compassion (suffers with) and is more in the helpful category. Compassion though is an attribute of God and is the source of life. Being helpful can look godly yet lack in so many ways.  When we value separation as a community, we may see a different form of compassion (less like God).

For instance separation compassion may look more like:

-writing a check to someone in need and not care about the people all around you in everyday life (neighbours, grocery store, driving, walking)

-going into a soup kitchen to serve food to people rather than intending first to be with people in relationship as they are fed.

Just a story to go with this. 

A friend of mine Greg Paul runs a downtown ministry/church called Sanctuary, for inner-city people with many high visible needs. He tells a story of a ‘high powered’ banker who heard of the great things going on and decides to come help out in the food program. As he enters and meets Greg, he is taking off his ‘high powered’ jacket and rolling up his ‘high powered’ sleeves to go serve food out of the kitchen to the many people waiting for their meal (sometimes the only one they get). Greg stops him and says “You won’t be in the kitchen today (reserved for people who work their way up to that). Go and grab a plate and eat with the community.”

This wasn’t comfortable for the man. He said “I can’t eat someone’s food, I came to help, not take”.  Greg’s reply was something like “what you will give to help today will be relationship. When was the last time a homeless person got the chance to sit and eat with a high powered banker? Do you know how many doors, people and barriers they would have to go through before they’d even see you? What you give today is community with people who are excluded-probably their greatest need.”

sionsapm
I have been studying/speaking on what it takes for us to be actively bringing about the work of community and compassion to our sphere of living. A part of the talk has to with what holds us back from joining Christ at what He is odoing--the killer. First I have really liked the simple definition of ‘compassion’; com = with, and passion = suffering (like the ‘passion of the Christ’) so in turn ‘suffering with’ is the best definitionof compassion to me and for my purposes . The other part is talking about joining Christ and walking a very ‘alive and awake’ experience of who He is in our world despite the prevalence of the issues that hold us back. i will have a mini-series on this for the next few entries, first consumerism.

Consumerism
We can’t escape all the messages of promise, hope, and satisfaction that comes with a purchase of that new, better item. All the billions of dollars spent alone on flyers, bulletin boards, commercials, marketing and ideas is astounding and even oppressive if we sit and look long enough at it.
There is a tactic to keep yourself focused on what you ‘need’ rather on what now you can do for others with what you have. Those so called ‘needs’ are actual deep felt wants that have nothing to do with true needs (enough food to live, shelter to protect, sleep, caring relationships, spiritual nurturing). This was taught to us out of media and the results of WW2, the industry and financial well being of our country depended on it. From my understanding the ‘great financial minds’ said we need to be a consuming nation so our economy will thrive. Enough was no longer enough. Items that used to be made with integrity and longevity were made less because it potentially slowed down consumerism (the washing machines of old lasted way longer than the models we buy today)

An aside -Targeting teenagers- something from my understanding is that teenagers never existed prior to 1940’s. it was a term coined by marketers to tap into one of the best consuming markets –people in the ages 13-19. They have cash (well they have their parents cash if they annoy, beg or complain enough), plus they have not fully developed minds/emotions that can be preyed on with a barrage of messages that say, ‘you need to fit in and with this brand of clothes, this latest music, this life of independence that can only be bought.’
We are basing a strong feeling of items as needs when they are just wants. It is ok to want/desire something, but the focus, times spent, and energy consumed in wanting is what kills our soul and likely the souls of many who we don’t see.

 For instance:
-if I want the next gimmick so badly, and feel I need it, people who hold me back from that entitlement are actually threats to my survival and should be treated as such (spouses become evil enemies when they challenge us, family time can be hindrances from the important pursuit of consuming, poors and those with needs are only considered when I feel I have all my needs met, etc) Selfishness is being fully catered to. (‘Do what thou wilt’ is a phrase right out of the satanic bible because it is the opposite of the very nature of Jesus).

-in the world we will not care so much of the resource stealing, abuse of power and harming of people we can’t see if we can get our needs met with a good deal.

-we will feel more and more incomplete in our own person. As a person feels in their own heart, so are they. If we feel incomplete in our own life, we will project that on to others and harm the very relational fabric we need.

So how do we undo this 60-70 year tradition? (actually the selfish heart issue is a much longer tradition). I find that a lifestyle of giving is the most effective way to undo what deeply lies within me. First I may need to recognize the amount of messages and values of consumerism around me. When we take time to see the subtle destructive nature of consumerism within ourselves and promote in the world, we can begin to see the place for transformation of giving. As I feed a life of sharing time, giving items, donating money towards other who are less fortunate than I not only assaults the greed, but it cultivates and aligns myself to the Giver—Christ. Compassion is in part a giving of your attention, time and resources to those who are in need.

Practically that could look like:
-each time you see the messages of buying or ‘consume’ think about it, talk about it (with family, friend). Example—Beer commercials that say if you drink our beer life is the best (popular, significant, good looking and happy). When in reality most avid beer drinkers do not look like the people in the commercial and have great difficulties with relationships. Look for the way the values of satisfaction are promised with the item advertised (happiness, peace, fulfillment, significance, great relationships). Be able think of true ways to work towards peace, happiness, etc.
- one suggestion I have heard is to go to basic cable or remove cable to reduce the messages of commercials and encourage creative ways to engage people in your home life. Or try fasting from something for a time and what money you save from not buying, coffee, fast food, candy etc you give to someone who really needs support. You can associate with suffering that way
Being aware and attentive to giving is something our society is more and more ready for—so is Jesus.  -joe

Every once and a while, we invite guest bloggers to write. This my friend Heino Claessens. Heino has great insight and tremendous wisdom which I draw from on a regular basis.  Hope you enjoy this one from his journey.

I have been told that I am a “Christian in exile”. Funny, I have never thought of myself as being anything other than a compassionate guy with foibles. One consuming foible of mine was a huge fixation on my life coming to an end – death, dying, game over. I would get myself all worked up about being unable to reconcile the fact that I wouldn’t be given all the time I wanted or craved to do everything that I felt needed doing. My life “to do” list kept getting longer and longer and more overwhelming. In hindsight, I was so greedy and concerned for time lost that I suffered from the complete inability to enjoy the time I did have. What was the epiphany; how did I get past this consuming angst? Scrambled eggs.

Let me explain. I believe in “thin places”. Places were the veil of everyday life isn’t as imposing, as deafening, as it is where we generally spend our lives. “Thin places” are where I re-connect with the Spirit more readily then I otherwise would. I will be so bold to share that with practice over time, I have learned to find “thin places” almost everywhere – but that’s a different story. I was at such a place while spending time with two of my five children at our family cottage. Upon preparing breakfast for them one Sunday morning I made what turned out to be an incredible plate of scrambled eggs. Fry up some onions and garlic until light brown. Crumble in bacon, salt, pepper and spices to taste, add eggs, a touch of milk and - presto - a real kid pleaser (the secret to making awesome scrambled eggs is not to overcook them or else they go from being fluffy to something akin to rubber). The first bite of these scrambled eggs was orgasmic. The second bite incredible. The third awesome. The fourth awesome and the same with the fifth and the sixth and so on. Each bite was awesome. It was then and there that I had my epiphany. Life is like these scrambled eggs. Life is awesome, nothing more and nothing less. As long as I lived in that moment of eating and enjoying those scrambled eggs it remained awesome. Every bite, regardless of how full I got was awesome and when the meal came to an end that was okay because it was awesome. I know it to be so. My life is like that now. Once I became consciously aware of living in the moment and truly enjoying – being passionate – about what I was doing in that moment I realized my life “at that moment” to be awesome, as it is during the next moment and the next. I realize when my life too comes to an end, that’s okay because I ate my eggs and I’m no longer “hung up” on having to, wanting to, needing to, get the chance to eat steak and then chicken with or without a myriad of various side dishes, or any other “stuff” for that matter.

As I reflect on this story I have become comfortable with the end being just that, the end. I’m not overly concerned with what happens, what can happen, what will or won’t happen. What will be - will be and so it is written. What I am concerned with is “the now”. Am I living as best as I can in relationship with the Spirit? To paraphrase a real cool dude I walk with at times, I’m concerned with a relationship that “seeks” passion for compassion, “sees” passion for compassion and “celebrates” passion for compassion. Scrambled eggs.

I have always loved the agricultural analogies in the bible, and lately Luke 13 Vs 6-9 has a story of two gardeners. It is about the fig tree planted and it does not bear fruit for 3 years. The owner says ‘cut it down’ but then another gardener came in and said ‘no, I will give it special attention and make sure it has the best environment to grow’ (my interpretation). The word for gardener in this context is;

ampelourgoß---a vinedresser that cultivates (to give over to one's care uncertain about the result, give fluids, to pour, pour into of rivers, to pour out, to put into, insert)

I feel a closeness to this gardener as of late. First because I feel (and I have felt) I am the fig at times that needs special attention and environment that cultivates fruit in my life. It has been precisely the people Christ raised up to be my gardeners (caring, pouring out/in inserting into my life). They are my mentors, spiritual companions (thank you to all who have been and continue to be this for me)! They have done so much for me just because they saw something about who Christ can be in my life and pour into me.

Secondly, I feel like in so many ways I am compelled to be this second gardener in this day and age. I realize more and more, God wants me to move from being the fig that receives care of a full empowered life to cultivate others through attentiveness and environments that build up.

Thirdly, the figs of today are people who have the capacity and inherent potential to be full of fruit (life abundant), but are incapacitated, apathetic, indifferent, or are marginalized (poors).

So what does the skills of the gardener look like today?
-in a word partnership, with God and with each other
-how this can look in a lifestyle, one who looks to where Christ is working in the lives of the people (assess and acknowledge/celebrate), surround them with encouragement, experience and ownership of who Christ is in them, and commission them to be ones who live in the partnership with Christ on this earth in the work of His Kingdom.

Story of this
A South Asian friend of mine who like the fig tree, felt his fruit was not bearing although he was planted in the world of seeking God (Sikh faith). Over time, many people took time to speak of Jesus and the life He was offering him (missionaries in India who baptized him, different books and writings and finally I had the chance to join the process, even still today!).
His first reaction to seeing God—Jesus, was to tell his family and go back to India with 3 bibles, books and other things to tell his friends about who Jesus is. He immediately felt the need to be the gardener to care for the other figs not bearing. He even told some of his coworkers about how Jesus can help them through the issues they face.

In a day and age where it seems most people are fig trees not producing regardless of whether people attend church services, Sikh meetings, or just sit and watch TV. The fruit bearing difference I see and experience is when people are aware of Christ’s working and pour themselves into that activity.

-joe

There is no time like ‘now’. Now you can change, now is the only time to make a difference. Now is the most you can see God/Christ. Bek and I have been doing read out loud’s lately of a book called ‘A New Earth’ by Eckhart Tolle. His concept is that God said He will make a new heaven and a new earth—we should live like the people of the new earth. People of the new earth are very present at all times.

I am recalling the moment that God introduces Himself to Moses; “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” Notice that God didn’t say, I was, I am and I will be. The very term ‘I AM’ is a very present ‘here and now’ term. Jesus also gets Himself into big trouble when He threw around the same term with the Jews. Jesus modeled the best ‘I Am-ness’ (being present) when He did things in response to the working of the Father and joining Him (John 5:17, 19,20). That was being in the moment and that lifestyle is what we are to live as well  --our ‘I Am-ness’

So today I am trying to figure what being ‘present’ means. It does mean to stop and contemplate. It means listening and highlighting who Jesus is in this moment, in my typing of this, my children running around right now, and even how I am breathing. All are ways of capturing the living truth and life (good, worthy of praise, excellent, etc-Phil 4:8).

Life abundant is not just ‘someday’ because it is mostly in this moment now.

I have always loved going out into nature and being alone with God. Especially in times when my life seems to be bland, falling apart, and numb. I remember a time when I had just suffered a burnout period in my work and I needed time away from everyone. I took a solid week to hike every day on a lookout in Bancroft called the Eagle’s Nest. There are many trails and reflection point to sit, think, smoke a pipe and journal. It was in the fall and so I was visually inundated with the exploding colours across the horizon.

I had only one question that I went into that time with for myself and God, “What I am I to do?" Taking my first day I hike, I sat and I pleaded in a mantra type fashion “God, What do you want me to do?”, over and over again.

I felt no answer.

My legs were sore, my mind was blank, I was no better off and I got worried because I at least expected a conversation to start in that time. The next morning I went to the same place and chanted over and over my same mantra and than I heard a small voice. It was not the answer to my question but it was a short statement that threw me, “You’re asking the wrong question.”

I spent the rest of the day figuring out what is the ‘right’ question. Nothing came.

I went home feeling happy that a discussion was starting but more depressed because I was way behind in my search and the week would be over before I knew it.

Day 3- it dawned on me that my initial search had to do with external change and tasks. I really like tasks and there is something inside me that feels good when I can process the day with a check list and say I accomplished ‘all’ this today. What I do doesn’t hit the real heart issues though. It may be more important to know who I am and let that inform what I do. So I began that day with hope asking God “Who am I?”. This mantra by the end of the day left me with thoughts but nothing that was resonating with me. I felt really depressed as I walked home because I had come up with my best question and it still left me lacking. I was preparing myself for the rest of the week to have this despondent feeling and head back to work with no new revelation. The next day I woke up to ready to fight God.

I wanted to plead, beg, yell do what ever but not continue with this hollow feeling. I knew a bit more of who I was but I still lacked. Than He hit me, “Joe you are asking the wrong question?” By now my frustration moved to brokenness and I was ready for anything. What possible could God be wanting me to ask? 

Maybe it was like the small voice on a breeze the same as Elijah on the mountain (kind of the surroundings I was in), but I heard very clearly, “Joe you should be asking ‘God, Who are you?’”  At first I stumbled on that because I was raised in a church that made me memorize a bunch of verses and the attributes and names of God. I thought, “I know you God. Why do I need to know you more?”

Lessons from the Blind man in John 9

Jesus encounters a blind man that His disciples have pointed out to Him. They want to talk about the origin of the blind man’s sin but Jesus wants to do something else.  So He says

Lesson

Walking away from Christ is what brought revelation-sight. Walking in obedience in a desert situation brought healing. How much time elapsed in this event?

Where was the pool of Siloam in relation to where this happened?

The Desert of the Blind man

Desert defined as the place or state that offers you nothing but your true authentic self and your God.

The Desert Fathers would go, learn and be in the desert –physically so that spiritually they would realize who they were and more importantly who God is.

I see the desert moments for the blind man being;

This desert seems to be much of his life. His place in life is to beg. He probably knows he doesn’t fit into the norm of society and that he is pitied and talked about. He is blind, but he could hear and perceive. The disciples don’t help the situation when they show up and make him a topical game show of ‘who sinned.’

His desert is the disconnect from the rest of the world. Nothing, if little is offered to him for some circumstances that were out of his control.

Jesus, the one who can help has come. He is the one the blind man has heard of who can heal. He’s healed lame people, demon possessed people were relieved and there was some interesting water/wine tricks. This is the man and possibly the moment.

What do you think it was like for him to have Jesus so close to him he could here his words, maybe even His breathing. Internally he may have thought,

“What do you think He will say? Will it be a booming voice yelling in deep manly tones “BE HEALED!” Will it be a hand touching his forehead and a radiant pulsating warm will intensely heal the old eyes? “No wait, He’s doing something! I can hear something. This is it! He is…, He is… spitting?”

“He’s not just spitting a little but a lot. Does He have a cold? Is He a smoker? What is going on? Sounds like some rubbing in the dirt and ……What!!!. I think he just wiped some of that spit mixed with mud on my face!”

Than Jesus tells him to get up and wash this off his face in a pool some distance away. There was no help as far as we can see from the text to get to the pool of Siloam (sent). Can you imagine your self in the place of that man in this instance?  He is now seemingly worse off now that he has been all his life. He’s stumbled before and fallen in a crowd where people laughed, but this….mud on his face. What comments do you think people may have been whispering as he bumped and scraped through town? “Did some pigeons fly over and nail this guy?”

This is the second desert moment. Walking further and further away from the guy who everyone has said can heal him and now probably he is so far away that he could scream out his name “JESUS!” and would not be heard. Yet the journey continues.

Now it is because this blind man took this journey away from Jesus, into His desert, true sight came to him. Is it possible that sometimes we need to walk away from the very obvious presence of Jesus to dark, uncertain places that offer us nothing but ourselves, broken and blind?  It is in these places revelation can come –revelation that can come no other way but by being sent (Siloam).

What do we do when these moments come to us from circumstance or conviction (desert)? What do we do when we are vulnerable and our true authentic selves are revealed to us in hard, dry and barren places?

I sometimes, cover up my raw emotions.  I try to ‘Tylenol’ the situation like a headache. I hide, I become numb or get real busy so I am unaware. I will even find a comfortable(negative sense, true definition of comfort is French for “to strengthen much”), place to reside. Sometimes I crap on myself for being so weak and useless and just tell myself to give up. But that is not what the desert is about.

-Journey to Siloam-discipline to contemplate, obey in each blind step

Being sent is key in our growth to places that may take time or be hard to go. In this moment, like the blind man, we need to be aware of our surroundings as we feel your way through this. Our feelings are heightened which allow our other senses to be very active and alive. In the humiliation I’m sure that walk for him became a little more alive as he walked a walk that could possible change his life. There may have been a par of him that thought, “What if this works?” We may feel this seems worse off but spiritually we are walking into a new aspect of Jesus’ person, character and healing. It wasn’t until the washing happened and the journey and assignment was fulfilled that he saw. That may be the truth for us.

We may not see the revelation of God for our lives until we walk a ‘desert’ walk of sorts. It needs to be done in obedience and not just finding a desert experience for the sake of finding deserts. Only then can we have the new revelation of who Jesus is. That is the point of the blind man was to know Jesus, and physically seeing was the bonus.

-joe

I am recounting all the amazing things God has included me in with 2007 moving on and feeling pretty privileged and mostly humbled. I realize I don’t have the ‘right answers all the time, I can’t communicate a vision and a strategy as well as I thought (let alone a blog), and there are less people following me than I would like to hope and not many people have been healed of a sickness, converted or the dead hasn’t been raised. It doesn’t change my downright feeling ‘favored by God’ moment for all He has done for me. That’s really it, -what He has done and continues to do. I get to be the celebrator, observer, facilitator and cultivator of Him which really is His preferred way of partnering with me. All that said, I have some inventory –God moments, that I want to celebrate more but lack of time can be the killer of celebration.
If you’re like me you can be too busy to do this and miss out on the pattern that God is consistently unfolding towards life decisions in the near and long term future. The God moments are everywhere and sometimes we can come face to face with Christ and still be doubtful –like John the Baptist.
John the Baptist had some time on his hands once he was thrown in jail by Herod. During that time I’m sure he was evaluating the work he has done, the lives he encountered and the future he may have. During that time his thoughts came to Jesus. Who was this man? Was He the one? So much was his thoughts that he sends out his followers to ask “Are you the one or should we expect another?” Matt 11:1-6.
My feelings are that John knew that the ‘one’ was more than just a man showing up on earth, but it was God Himself personified and implementing a whole new way for the Kingdom to be experienced and seen. The ‘Christ’ was not Jesus’ last name but an identity that reveals God’s intention to partner with humanity, to bring about peace (shalom), to bring about an anointing of miracles, wonders and people seeing with a heart of flesh into the divine. My feelings are that John knew the Christ would be a movement of many empowered not just the actions of one that did something for everyone. I think that is why Jesus answered John’s disciples the way He did.
“Tell John the blind see, the sick are healed and the lame walk, the poor are seeing the gospel, etc.” That answer was not yes, but it was more than yes. It was more of revealing the activity of God’s heart and character on the world. It was the beginning of more humans who would personify and take on the very same work. That work is the best way to qualify ‘life to the fullest’ (John 10:10).
We are not told if John hears that answer and says “great, we are now beginning a movement of anointing that will dynamically change the way God works and communicates and transforms this world”—but I think he did. I know the fullness of what that anointed movement looked like back then must not have been grasped , but then again do we today with so much history get it?
Why is it that I have such a hard time understanding my role on a daily basis as a Christ follower? Why is it that I sometimes don’t see the living reality of this movement around me in such tangible way? My biggest problem is my lens is still a little foggy and I can let feelings change my perspective on reality from one moment to the next. I need to realize the chemicals in my body a less real than the work of Christ around me. I have also to change my view on the very miracles that happen so frequently without someone to really highlight and celebrate them. Miracles that aren’t as ‘radical’ huge and attention getting as physical healings (seem to be less and less amazing in western society today anyways).
There are miracles of goodness, truth, love, compassion, community, assistance, a little more patience, a smile or an encouraging word that are too numerous to count, usually are put into categories of ‘common sense’ or ‘normal behavior’ . Are they still not the attributes and characteristics and evidence of the movement of God? Do they deserve less praise because they are more familiar?
The opposite could be true as far as a value system goes that God doesn’t regard little familiar sins any different from the big dramatic ones, so why do we think that is different for the life characteristics of God? Can’t a moment of acknowledging ‘life’ (I am breathing and my heart is beating) be a miracle captured? It takes too much time to capture them all.
For me lately I would see the greater areas of my life and the culture I am surrounded by, needs to highlight more the many miracles that are directly against the biggest enemies of the ‘Christ’ movement like : consumerism, capitalism, apathy, separation, busyness, indifference (western society).
We may be like John the Baptist who is asking “Is this it? Is this the Christ movement being actualized today? Or do we need to wait for someone or something else?” and Jesus needs to answer us through many ways:
“The consumer gives, the capitalist partners, the apathetic are awakened, the separate find community, the indifferent are compassionate, the aimless have purpose and mission, busy people slow down and prioritize and reflect, the angry disjointed and anxious are agents of peace, the cold person smiles,,,
…the next breath you are taking is making you very aware of Me because you know you don’t get it any other way except that I, the Christ, exists. Now what will you do with all these numerous miracles?”

At the heart of every evangelist, disciple, pastor, giver and follower of Christ, we have to know it is crucial to practice listening and highlighting (seek, see, celebrate) the face of Christ in every day. Otherwise we miss Him.

Whatsoever things are pure, excellent, worthy of praise, true, noble, ….Meditate, dwell, focus and cultivate those things—Phil 4:8

So it is the new year and I use this time to reflect. I really don’t make ‘resolutions’ usually because  I hope I am able to make a change in my life as needed as opposed to ‘someday’ to make a change. So I am sitting inside on a snowy day (New Years Day) and taking time to celebrate all that this last year has been for me. I try to take inventory on a regular basis of all the good decisions and encounters of miracles God has provided this last year.

I usually am faulted for being such an ‘eternal optimist’ to the point that people think I am ‘unaware’, ‘on another planet’, unrealistic’, ‘too ideal’, etc (you get the picture). I wasn’t always that way. I use to focus on al that was negative, wrong and celebrate all the failings of others—especially the failing in myself. To the point I felt suicide wasn’t that bad of an idea (another story someday). What happened in my life back then was I catered so much to the ‘problems’ of life that I habitually sought out and looked for wrong.  I was not equipped for life. I have heard though we have been hard wired to function best when we seek the positive

The make up of our brain (scientifically) is built for change. In fact the more we change it the better it grows. So when we build a certain pattern of negative thoughts (creating a familiar channel in our brain tissue for information to travel on) we will be less prone to grow our brains and be less adaptable to life. Seeking out new solutions in a positive way, creates a new channel for our brain –in essence we grow.  Einstien said something to the effect of “the problems we face today cannot be solved by the same type of thinking that formed them’. This gets me to my thought for the new year.

I need to not only be one who can positively seek an opportunity in a difficult situation, but I need to be positively seeking out new solutions (good for my brain and my situation). Plus I need to be engaging in a more celebratory position every day, moment  by moment.

In Short - 1 When faced with a problem, embrace it as opportunity. 2 Seek positive solutions 3 Live a life that captures celebration moments

It becomes a practical way to live Phil 4:8. Note this process, if done right is uncomfortable, takes lots of energy and can leave you at first uncertain, confused and fearful. But take heart you get past that.

To close –do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your MIND.

Just was hit with news today about a guy -Jermaine Malcolm who was stabbed to death at my old work area in Meadowvale. I had built a relationship with Jermaine in the drop-in days and the last I saw him, he was aspiring to make a difference in the music world by being a positive role model.

Seek – To pursue, eagerly watch for in a progressive and intentional way

Seeking and dissatisfaction have a lot in common in my mind. Before the fall I believe Adam sought after deeper knowledge of God. Since the fall the ability to seek has not decreased or increased but has sought out other things than God. Again this is my belief but it makes sense.

It makes sense because how else can we explain the growth, development, and evolution of humanity. Some call this ‘seeking’, dissatisfaction. If that title sticks better with you, than I think it is one of the greatest gifts God ever gave us than. If we weren’t dissatisfied/seeking than there would be no way we would ever have a relationship with God.  The ability to seek is God given. In fact it is the work of the Holy Spirit for us to seek. Even if people are seeking out the things that are not of God, they are better off than those who wouldn’t even seek (apathetic).

When someone is seeking after the riches of this world, substances, fame, relationships or whatever they may be drawn to, they may not appear to be seeking God but they really are, they just have been distracted in their search for the seemingly more fulfilling answer. That search will exhaust and another will replace it until it comes solely back to Jesus. Those who aren’t even seeking have no chance to encounter God (or maybe they don’t show evidence of His work drawing depending on your bent of predestination).

Do a study sometime on the word ‘seek’ in the Bible. There are numerous references. It is littered with the concept that one of the most significant aspects to spiritual growth in humanity is seeking. The next time you find yourself desiring or dissatisfied or seeking, thank God for His work in you. Ask what you should be seeking for in Him.

See- to visually absorb and discern, to gaze upon something unveiled, to observe, witness or understand and acknowledge.

For those who can we take for granted our ability to see. Seeing spiritually is no different. When we see an act of God; a moment of truth, someone assisting someone else, an encouraging spoken word, etc we minimize that goodness to common sense or normal. By doing that we blind ourselves to seeing that those moments are nothing short of a miracle from God who is revealing Himself or character. The ability to see is similar to seeking –it is from God and God only.

It is possible to seek and seek and never clearly see. Sight was not given to every blind man Jesus encountered although it would be safe to say all blind wanted and sought after sight. We may seek and we may even see, but pass over the moment like we deserved it or say it’s normal. We miss out because we don’t really see- not only have our eyes receive input but for our consciousness to acknowledge the moment of God’s character.

The truth is God is working everywhere from strip houses to picturesque nature scenes, God is present and waiting to be seen. We have lost the art of seeing and being in places or consciousness to see Him. This is a constant feeding to our souls present in every waking moment of our lives. Just waiting for us to say “Ah, I see you God!, or Thank you God for revealing yourself to me!”

That is the role of Christ followers is to be the ones who cultivate the presence of God in any given moment- to celebrate.

Celebrate –with reverence, with mouth, with a responding life. To respond with enthusiasm, reverence and acknowledgement to the act or circumstance given. To honor and bring glory to someone or something with body, mind, and soul.

Let’s face it, we are built to celebrate. Most people think of times of celebration reserved for an event that involves, planning, a guest list, the right party gear and/ or an occasion that has significance of anniversaries, birthdays or achievement markers. I would say those types of celebration are a small part of the celebration we are built for. I would say we are to have a lifestyle of celebration. Everyday and every moment contains a celebration potential. Whether we see it or not does not change that potential. It’s a perspective of anticipation, understanding the ever presence of God and the enjoyment of life for all it’s good and bad. This is what I think it means when Jesus says He came to give ‘life to the fullest’ –John 10:10.     We do not have the discipline or the clear spiritual receptor to understand this ongoing miracle all the time. We only catch glimpses of the moment.

So what does that look like? Praise and celebration is done with your mouth, your heart and your actions. Each scenario is different. It could be saying ‘thank you’ or responding through giving something (offering) or serving because you become actively involved in the thing that your worship.

Let me try to bring all three into practical situations;

You are sitting in a service on Sunday desiring and praying to hear from God in a current issue that you need answers to (Seek). The pastor says a verse from the Bible that applies to you and you see that was the act of God hearing your prayer (See). You bow your head saying a prayer of thanks and say ‘Amen’ to the pastor (Celebrate).

Or

You have committed your day to look for the character of God in your day (Seek). A man opens a door for you as you are carrying something while he was busy doing something else and you recognize that gesture is very much like the character of God (See). You say “Thank you for watching out for me and making my day easier” (Celebrate).

Or

I have asked God to show me His face in a bar that my friends have asked me to go for a drink (Seek). In the crowded bar as I was waiting a guy who is semi drunk approaches me and says things like “Hey, can I buy you a beer?”, “I’m a regular here and I see this is new to you, what would you like to know?” and “What do your friends look like so I can help you find them?” I saw that he was displaying the character of God that was saying to me “Joe, I love you and I just want to welcome you into this place. You have asked to see me and I will show you my work and presence is already here and I’m glad you are here to celebrate me working, -not many do.” (See).  So I than thanked the guy and praised him for bringing such hospitality to me that I rarely experience (like the church especially). I also encourage that skill of welcoming and serving in him so that he will become the most of what God has already gifted him in (Celebrate).

The last scenario maybe the hardest, but I will guarantee it will be the most rewarding and the places that have been not inhabited and frequented by Christ followers need to have the seekers, seers and celebrators of His work and Character.

To begin a lifestyle of seek, see, celebrate here are some things that keep me on mission.

-Be in the community close to people in your normal sphere of living.

-spend time knowing and seeking who Jesus is

-begin a habit of writing down the ways you see the work of Jesus

Once I consistently work this muscle of seeking and seeing, I find the response (celebration) becomes natural, right and life giving to myself and others. Reason being is that Jesus’ mission is to give life to the fullest when we are in Him.